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Friday, October 25, 2013

Semester Exchange in Florida

I can’t believe it is already my fourth and final year at
Prescott College. I came here as a wide-eyed 18 year old knowing I was here to
study the environment because it was fascinating, and knowing little more about
it. Looking back and becoming nostalgic about my experiences here, I’ve decided
to post about just one amazing opportunity I had through school. During my
second year here at Prescott College, I applied for a CIEL exchange semester at
New College of Florida. It’s always hard to leave friends and community in
Prescott, but I saw the CIEL exchange program as an opportunity I couldn’t pass
up. I couldn’t believe it when I looked at the extensive list of schools I
could go to for a semester. It was hard to pick just one, but I settled on New
College of Florida for an adventure in an entirely different ecosystem.

This experience began with a cross country road trip from AZ
to FL with two friends, a big pot of pasta salad, and a ’95 Honda accord.
Seeing the dramatic landscapes across the west and the gradual change to
subtropical forest gave me a true understanding of the multitude of ecosystems
in the southern US. After a long and epic journey we arrived in beautiful
Sarasota, Florida, and jumped straight into the ocean.

I instantly met a few other students on CIEL exchanges from
schools around the US. It seemed that each person in the exchange felt pride
about their school, but needed to escape for a semester (an issue I didn’t have
since I’d already spent a semester in Kino and both blocks in the field), and
we all immediately bonded. The coolest class I took in Florida was called
Eumycetozoans, or slime molds, in which we surveyed a maritime forest. If you
don’t know what slime molds are look them up! They are amazing organisms!

I decided to stay for the summer before returning west, and got
two internships in town. The first was working as a beach bird monitor for
Audubon Society. I was given training on how to spot nests, chicks, and to put
up signs in the area to educate beach-goers about these threatened
species. My species of interest were
snowy plovers, black skimmers, and least terns. I also had an internship with
Sierra Club working on a Clean Water Campaign. I organized a Water Sentinels
program in which I trained local volunteers in checking the water quality of
water bodies in their neighborhoods.

In August I returned to Prescott and to the friends I had
missed. I recommend a CIEL exchange to everyone because there are adventures to
be had everywhere, especially if you can get credit for them!

Links We Love

Matt Seats

Competence: Wilderness Leadership (Adventure Education)Breadth: Environmental Studies (Land Management Policy)Favorite Place: I really enjoy Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, but Rum Point in Grand Cayman and the jungles and cloud forests in the Chiriqui region of Panama are pretty amazing too!On My Days Off I Like To: Rock climb, write, bike, hike, kayak and otherwise spend time outdoors.After I Graduate: I hope to split my time between teaching/instructing in the field, working on land management policy research and issues at the Bureau of Land Management (or other land management agency), and guiding international expeditions.

Amanda August

Competence: Human Development

Breadth: Cultural and Regional Studies; Adventure Education

My Favorite Place: Recently I traveled to Seattle and Rainier Nat'l Park and absolutely loved it. I also worked in the Sierra Nevadas last year and can't wait to get back this coming summer and explore more!

On My Days Off I Like To: Hiking/Climbing/Cycling, Check out what's new at the Picture Show, Tinker with projects, Letterboxing, Traveling with friends.

After I Graduate: Continue on to get my Masters, working in Non Profits serving under served Youth, invoking systemic change while promoting experiential education as a basic academic necessity. Canoe the Yukon. Travel South America. Open a brewery. You know, do it all.

Hannah Jean Marshall

Competence: A double competence in Wilderness Leadership with an emphasis in Gender studies, and The Political Economy and Social Justice Favorite place: Where ever I find my adventureOn My Saturdays Off I Like To: See what the day brings...

After I Graduate: I will be a rock star

Ruby Teegarden

Competence: Environmental PolicyBreadth: Music EducationFavorite Place: San Francisco/BerkeleyOn my Saturdays off I like to Read, be in the sun, cook yummy foodAfter I graduate I plan on making our food systems more sustainable, among other things.